Lamp for generating acetylene gas



NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDIVARD F. VOGEL, OF CIIICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO JACOB B. KOI'INER AND LOUIS E. SOSTHEIM,

OF SAME PLACE.

LAMP FOR GENERATING ACETYLENE GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 625,222, dated May 16, 1899.

` Application tiled July 2, 1898. Serial No. 685,003.A (No model.)

To all w21/077@ t may cm1/cern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD F. VOGEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certaininew and useful Improvements in Lamps for Generating and Burning Acetyleno Gas, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularlyto that class of generators for forming and burning acetylene gas, which is formed by the wellknown process of decomposition of carbid and water, and especially to that class known as vehiclelamps,7 all of which will more fully hereinafter appear.

The main object of my invention is to provide a simple, economical, and efficient portable lamp for the simple and economical generatingofacetyleneandsimilargases. Other objects of the invention will appear from an inspection of the drawing and the following description and claims.

The invention consists in the features, combinations, and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the ligure is a vertical sectional elevation taken through the longitudinal center of the lamp and shows a bicycle or vehicle lamp constructed in accordance with my improvements.

In constructing a portable lamp in accordance with my improvements I make a receptacle or body portion A, consisting of acylindrical shell formed of sheet metal, in which there is a cylindrical generating-chamber a. This generating-chamber is of sufficient size and length to hold a cartridge B, which is open at the top and closed at the bottom for the purpose of holding a supply of carbid C in the lower part thereof.

It is highly desirable in order to supply moisture to thecarbid inthe shape of ordinary water to bring it as close as possible to the carbid, regulate the feed of the liquid, and equalize the pressure on all sides of the liquid, so as to provide for a uniform generation of the gas. In order to accomplish this result, I make a water-receptacle D', which is preferably cylindrical in shape and iiat at both ends and adapted to loosely fit inside of the cartridge, so that it may move up as the carbid expands, which it does during the generation of the gas. The upper part of this Water-chamber is provided with a screw-plug d, having a perforation d therein, through which the gas may enter. The arrangement is such that the plug may be removed when it is desired to empty the water and to readily replenish the supply of water in the chamber.

To feed the water to the carbid, the lower part of the chamber is provided with a threaded nipple d2, engaged by a perforated threaded cap d3. Between this cap and the nipple and covering the perforation are arranged one or more layers of absorbent material D, such as blotting-paper and the like, through which the water may percolate in minute quantities.

The arrangement is such that if it is desired to form gas rapidly but one thin layer of absorbent material may be interposed to obstruct the opening; but when it is desired to form gas slowly two or more layers may be thus interposed, so that the generation of the gas is under the control entirely ofthe user of the lamp and may be regulated by the amount of absorbent material that covers the supply-opening in the chamber.

In order to keep the liquid-chamber in contact with the carbid, a B-sprin g E is provided', bearing against the cover c of the main body portion and the upper part of the water-- a bracket I, inthe opening of which there is mounted a sliding block t', arranged to be contacted by a set-screw t.

In operation the cartridge as supplied with the carbid is inserted in the generatinghamber, the liquid-receptacle placed therein with the opening containing the porous material downward. The spring is then placed in positionand the cap screwed on. The water begins to feed to the carbid immediately, and in connection therewith a decomposition takes place, which forms acetylene gas. The gas passes into the generating-chamber between the cartridge and the walls thereof and` out through the burner-tube G and through the burner g to be ignited, if desired. Vhen it is desired to'use the lamp and prevent the formation of gas, the water-receptacle may be removed entirely or the vent-opening d closed and the position of the receptacle inverted.

While I have described my invention as adapted to certain specific uses as embodied in certain precise forms and very minutely as regards details of construction and arrangement, I do not desire to be limited thereto unduly or any more than is pointed out in the claims. On the contrary, I contemplate all proper uses, changes in form and arrangement, the omission of immaterial elements, and the substitutioh of equivalents as circumsta'nces may suggest or necessity render expedient.

I claml l. In alamp of the class described, the combination of a receptacle provided with a generating-chamber adapted to receive a supply of carbid or similar gas-producing material, and a receptacle providing a water-chamber loosely and movably mounted within the generating-chamber so as to be raised as the carbid increases in volume, substantially as described.

2. In a lamp of the class described, the combination of a body portion having a cylindrical generating-chamber therein adapted to receive a supply of carbid in the lower portion thereof, a cylindrical water-receptacle loosely and movably arranged in the upper portion thereof and adapted to be raised as the carbid increases in volume and-provided with a perforation in'the upper part and a perforation in the lower part, and a piece of absorbent material interposed in the opening in the lower part of the water-receptacle, substantially as described.

3. In a lamp of the class described, the combination of a body portion having a vertical cylindrical generating-chamber, a cartridge containing a supply of carbid in the lower part thereof, a cylindrical water-receptacle adapted to be loosely and movably mounted in the cartridge and contact the carbid and be raise-das the carbid increases in volume and provided with a perforation in the top and a perforation in the bottom, and a layer of absorbent material in the lower perforation of the water-receptacle through which a supply of water is furnished to the carbid, substantially as described.

4. In a lamp of the class described, the com bination of a body portion provided with a vertical cylindrical generating-chamber adapted to receive a body of carbid in the bottom portion thereof, a cylindrical water-receptacle perforated at top and bottom and loosely and vertically-movably mounted in the generating-chamber and adapted to be raised as the carbid increases in volume, one or more layers of absorbent material arranged to cover the lower opening of the Water-receptacle,a spring interposed between the water-receptacle and the upper part of the body portion to keep the receptacle in contact with the carbid, and a burner and pipe connected with the generating-chamber, substantially as described.

5. In a lamp of the class described, the combination of a body portion provided with a cylindrical generatingchamberand havinga burner connected therewith, a cartridge consisting of a cylindrical shell holding a supply of carbid in the lower part thereof, a cylindrical water-receptacle loosely and verticallymovablymounted in the cartridge, a perforated screw-plug in the upper part of the water-receptacle, a perforated screw-plug having threaded engagement with the lower part of the water-receptacle, one or more layers of absorbent material interposed between the lower screw-plug and the opening in the receptacle through which the supply of water must pass to the carbid, and a coiled spring interposed between the water-receptacle and the body portion of `the lamp to keep such receptacle in contact with the carbid, substantially as described.

EDWARD F. voGEL.

Witnesses:

JACOB B. KOHNER, THOMAS F. SHERIDAN. 

